The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 1

WEATHER SUNRISE BUSINESS EXTRA AFTERNOON RAIN Mild. Low 35, high 50. Page B2 READERS TAKE DESSERTS SERIOUSLY Indy's sweets lovers head to Franklin for frozen custard. Page C1 SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIALISTS Local office suppliers keep what they do best. Page D7 The Indianapolis tar "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty" II Cor.

3:17 SINGLE COPY 35C Controller monitored both planes in crash 2:57 p.m. on Sept. 11, Just northeast of Greenwood Municipal Airport. Bennett was killed: his daughter, Julie Bennett, and copilot Mark Doucey were severely Injured. Mullin and his four passengers, philanthropy executive Michael A.

Carroll, banker Frank McKinney auto dealer John R. Weliever and Robert V. Welch, executive director of the White River State Park Development Commission, were on a park commission trip to look at a floral exhibition in The 30 seconds mentioned by; Fritz will probably be a key focus-as an investigation into the accl-' dent proceeds. According to a transcript. Fritz, ended radio contact and radar service to Bennett at 2:56:05 p.m.-For the next 36 seconds, Fritz: appears to have some lnteCJTJil communication with other cojj-; trailers.

But he Is not contacted by Say other aircraft until the MU-2 nutf; os him at 2:56:41 and announce It is off the ground. So rnwTuni vn Paf According to the reports, air traffic control specialist David M. Fritz was the only controller in radio contact with a single-engine Piper Saratoga piloted by William Bennett and a Mitsubishi MU-2 flown by Bill Mullin and carrying four Indianapolis civic leaders. The documents also suggest the controller was not burdened by a heavy workload. Prior to the release of the information, federal Investigators had not revealed how many controllers were handling the two aircraft.

If two controllers were handling the planes separately, that might explain why no warning was given. But two local attorneys representing the families of crash victims believe the records reveal Fritz had enough time to warn the pilots. "It sure appears the air traffic controller should have put one and one together and got two aircraft," said attorney Richard M. Malad, who Is representing the Bennetts. In the one-page statement, filled with aviation jargon and aero-' nyms, Fritz said he had terminat ed radar service to Bennett's Piper Saratoga about 30 seconds before the MU-2, using its call sign, N74FB, made radio contact.

"I observed no traffic in the area. Approximately 30 seconds later, N74FB called off HFY (Greenwood) requesting IFR (instrument flight rules) to CMH (Columbus. Ohio). N74FB was instructed to squawk 4564 and ident, maintain at or below 5,000 feet (in altitude). There was no reply.

I attempt contact again and still did not get a reply." The aircraft collided at By DAVID J. REMONDINI STAR STAFF WRITER Two private airplanes that collided over southeastern Marion County in September were being monitored by the same air traffic controller raising questions of why the controller did not warn either pilot that another plane was nearby. That Information is contained in Federal Aviation Administration documents released Monday in response to a federal Freedom of Information request filed by The Indianapolis Star. Football Wind flattens new church for second time ended with tornado's touchdown Sunday Northeastside neighborhood took brunt of storms fury Cm JL 1 I St i i ii By R. JOSEPH GELARDEN And SUSAN SCHRAMM STAR STAFF WRITERS As residents of Indianapolis' most devastated neighborhood sifted through storm rubble Monday, the conversations had a common theme: The tornado hit with the suddenness of a bomb.

One minute, it was a lazy Sunday afternoon. The next was a nightmare of shattering glass, roofs and walls ripping away from houses, trees twisting Into splintered kindling and debris flying ev- ery where. It was as if the neighborhood, Just a few blocks south of Cathedral High School and the mansion that houses the Hudson Institute, had been the bull's-eye for all the storm's energy. The tornado had skipped across much of the city but came down hard at 46th Street and Emerson Avenue, demolishing a partially completed church building and roaring eastward Into a subdivision of modest ranch homes. On Monday, as residents tried to salvage their possessions and, waited for insurance they described their experiences.

Like thousands of other Indianapolis residents, Grace ley of 5201 Thornlelgh Drive was spending Sunday afternoon sitting In front of her television, rooting for the hapless Colts. "They were so bad that I was; just disgusted and flipped off the; set, and I went to another room." It may have saved her life. When she returned a moment later, she was greeted by an explosion of the large glass window: next to her chair and TV. Normally, she said, she would, See STORM Page 2 STAR STAFF PHOTOS KELLY WILKINSON STORIES INSIDE Neil Thompson (above) steadies a wall of his father's storm-damaged home as family friend Dan Hall sifts through debris. At left, Indianapolis Power Light Co.

worker Matt Amis surveys the flattened Church of the Living God, 4602 North Emerson Avenue. Deadly path: Killer tornadoes strike North Carolina, killing two. Page A2. Storm's aftermath: Mayor Stephen Goldsmith tours the damaged neighborhoods. Page B1.

Idle curiosity: The misfortunes of others bring out the gawkers. Page B8. Around the state: Ten Indiana counties begin cleaning up. Page B8. By GREGORY WEAVER STAR RELIGION WRITER Some might say the Almighty has dealt the Church of the Living God a double whammy this year.

On Sunday for the the second time this year severe winds flattened the frame of the partially constructed church at 4602 North Emerson Avenue. Could it be a sign that the church wasn't meant to be built? Not to leaders of the 100-mem-ber congregation. They prefer to think of it as a blessing in disguise. "I believe adversity just strengthens our faith," said the pastor, the Rev. Thomas Howard.

"I know most people say it's an act of God," he said. "He may have allowed it, but He doesn't do evil. He has His purpose, and I'm confident all things will work together for the good." James Grady, chairman of the church's board of trustees, said he has faith that the destruction will bring a new cohesiveness to the church membership. "We are not perplexed. We are not downtrodden, but we are a little weary," Grady said.

"We've suffered a slight setback, but we will come together and with the help of God we will always be victorious. We will rebuild." Weariness is understandable. The church, which has been worshiping in a storefront at 2024 East 46th Street, has been constructing its new building since early spring. As spring ended, the building had a foundation and walls. That's when the walls were topped by a windstorm that caused about $20,000 in damage to the building, Rev.

Howard said. He said he expects recent losses to be even greater because con-See CHURCH Page 2 More than half of school funds may. miss class By KATHY WHYDE JESSE STAR STAFF WRITER A new study of education spending indicates less than half of the tax dollars spent on Indiana public schools actually reach the classroom. The study, conducted by the Indiana Policy Review, reported that statewide, only 38 percent of total school expenditures end up in the classroom. In Indianapolis Public Schools, that figure is 35.9 percent.

When transportation, construction and building maintenance costs are removed, IPS spends 48.7 percent of total expenditures on instruction, compared to 56.8 percent statewide, according to the study. Preliminary results of a similar U.S. Census Bureau study suggest that nationwide, 70 percent of total education expenditures end up in the classroom, said Carlyn Johnson, associate director of the Indiana Education Policy Center at IUPUI. Johnson disputed the Indiana study's conclusions, saying it does not Include all instructional costs. See SCK'OOL Page 2 Teen pleads guilty in torture-slaying INDEX Almanac C6 Bridge C6 Business D7-14 Classified Ads B9-15 and D15 Comics C4 Crossword C6 Doonesbury Editorials A6 Graham D6 Meloise C5 Defendant recounts role in death of New Albany girl Horoscope C6 Dr.

Lamb C8 Landers C8 Lotteries B2 Movies C3 Obituaries D6 People C2 Sports D1-S Statistics B9 TV-Radio Weather 48 pages PRAYER ''J I I I By ROB SCHNEIDER STAR STAFF WRITER Madison, Ind. Melinda Loveless softly answered, "Yes, sir" over and over again Monday as she admitted her part In a crime that stunned this Ohio River community. Dabbing her eyes and occasionally sobbing, Loveless who turned 17 less than a month ago formally pleaded guilty to murder, arson and criminal confinement in the torture-slaying of a 12-year-old New Albany girl, whose final hours of life saw her threatened with a knife, battered and set on fire. Loveless' tears were met by those of victim Shanda Rene Sharer's family and friends in Jefferson Circuit Court. Under questioning from one of her attorneys, Russell Johnson, the New Albany teenager recounted pulling Shanda 's hair and holding a knife to the 12-year-old as she was abducted on the night of Jan.

10. The incident ended hours later on Jan. 11 along a rural county road north of Madison. After being beaten, cut and sodomized, Shanda was taken to the remote location and set on fire. "You threw gas on the body of Shanda Sharer?" Johnson asked.

"Yes," Loveless answered. Vien the gasoline was thrown onto Shanct, her clothes had already been set on fire, prosecutors said. Loveless said she was unsure whether Shanda was alive when the gasoline was added to her body. But asked whether Shanda had been alive prior to the time of the Initial fire. Loveless said, "Yes." After Monday's hearing, Judge Ted R.

Todd accepted Loveless' guilty pleas, which came as part of a plea bargain that Loveless and another defendant, Mary Laurlne Tackett, agreed to on Oct. 6. As part of the agreement, the Jefferson County prosecutor agreed to drop a request for the death penalty and seven other charges against Loveless and Tackett, 18. A third defendant. Tonl Lawrence, 16, of Madison, pleaded guilty earlier to criminal confinement as part of a plea bargain for her testimony against others In the case.

A fourth defendant, Hope A. Rlppey, 16. of Madison, is scheduled to go on trial March 1 on a number of charges, Including murder, arson and criminal confinement. Before accepting the agreement, Todd again asked Loveless if she understood that she faces a maximum sentence of 60 years In prison. "Yes," she answered.

A sentencing hearing is schedujd Dec. 14. When a turbulent disaster strikes, we turn to You, Lord, for strength and courage to rebuild our lives, and to thank You for helping to comfort the survivors. Amen. CHUCKLE By the time you finally get to greener pastures, you're too tired to climb over the fence.

PHONE NUMBERS Circulation 633-9211 Main office 633-1240 Classified ads 633-1212 Scores after 4:30 p.m. 633-1200 Volume 90, No. 172 1992, The Indianapolis Star STAR STAFF PHOTO TOM CHIAT Melinda Loveless and defense lawyer Russell Johnson leave Je'ferson CircuiJourt.